This Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is bold, cozy, and incredibly easy to make. Tender Cajun-seasoned chicken, peppers, and penne simmer together in one pot in a rich, bold, flavorful, creamy sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, family dinners, or when you’re craving comfort food with a kick!
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
This Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is comfort food with serious personality. Bold Cajun seasoning, tender chicken, fire-roasted tomatoes, and pasta come together in a rich, creamy sauce that’s packed with flavor but surprisingly easy to make. It’s bold, comforting, and cooks all in one pot, including the pasta, for easy prep and easy cleanup!
Big flavor and little effort, this pasta is perfect for busy nights when you want something hearty, flavorful, and satisfying on the table fast.
Why You’ll Love This Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
- One-Pot Wonder: The pasta cooks right in the sauce, soaking up all that spicy, savory flavor.
- Bold Cajun Flavor: Made with classic aromatics, the holy trinity (celery, onion, peppers), Cajun seasoning, fire-roasted tomatoes, and a touch of cayenne.
- Creamy but Not Heavy: The combination of heavy cream and Parmesan gives the sauce a silky, restaurant-style finish.
- 30-40 Minutes Total: Quick enough for weeknights but delicious enough for guests.
- Fully Customizable: Make it mild or spicy, add sausage, swap noodles... Easy to adapt.
Tips and Variations
- Use a high-quality Cajun seasoning. It makes a big difference in flavor.
- Adjust the heat by adding more or less jalapeño, cayenne, Cajun seasoning, or Louisiana hot sauce.
- Stir frequently once the pasta is added to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Thicken the sauce by simmering uncovered for a few extra minutes. Alternately, thin with a splash of broth.
- Add Andouille sausage for a heartier, more classic Cajun flavor.
- Use shrimp instead of chicken. Add during the last 5 minutes so it doesn’t overcook.
- Swap pasta shapes like rigatoni, bowties, or cavatappi.
- Add extra veggies. This is a great place to throw in extra or leftover veggies because the flavors or so bold, you'll barely notice. Try broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, spinach, or whatever else you have on hand.
How to Serve Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
This Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is hearty enough to serve all on its own, making it a great option for busy weeknights when you want dinner to be simple and satisfying. If you’re looking to round out the meal, it pairs beautifully with warm garlic bread or a crusty loaf to soak up every bit of that creamy Cajun sauce. A simple green salad or roasted vegetables on the side add a fresh contrast to the rich, bold flavors, while a slice of cornbread makes it feel extra cozy and comforting.
More Cajun Inspired Recipes You'll Love
- Pastalaya - A.k.a. Jambalaya pasta! A bold Louisiana pasta dish made with smoky sausage, tender chicken, and classic Cajun seasoning for a hearty, flavor-packed meal.
- Shrimp Etouffee - A classic Creole dish featuring tender shrimp simmered in a rich, buttery sauce full of deep Louisiana flavor, served over rice to catch every drop of that rich, flavorful sauce.
- Lump Crab Cakes with Remoulade - Crispy, golden crab cakes packed with sweet lump crab meat and served with a zesty homemade remoulade.
- Authentic Creole Gumbo - Rich, slow-simmered Creole gumbo made with a deep roux, bold seasoning, and layers of comforting flavor.
- Air Fryer Hush Puppies - Lightly crisp hush puppies with a soft, fluffy center, made easy in the air fryer with no deep frying.
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Video
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 1 celery rib
- 1 jalapeno seeded and finely chopped (optional for spice)
- 1 medium onion diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon Cajun or Creole seasoning (we love Tony Chachere's) plus more to taste
- 1 can (14 ounces) fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 2 cups chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste
- 8 ounces uncooked penne
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated parmesan
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat butter in a stock pot (or a very large, deep sauté pan) over medium-high heat.
- Add bell peppers, celery, jalapeño, onion and garlic. Sauté for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened.
- Add the chicken and Creole seasoning and sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is nearly cooked through.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, chicken stock, thyme, and cayenne, and stir to combine. Continue cooking until the mixture reaches a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Add penne. Stir to combine.
- Cover and simmer for about 11-16 minutes, or until the pasta is nearly cooked through, stirring every 5 minutes or so along the way so that it does not burn.
- Once pasta is tender and cooked through, add cream and parmesan. Stir to combine.
- Taste and season the pasta with salt, pepper, and additional Cajun seasoning if needed. Remove from heat.
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat: Add a splash of broth or cream and warm gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
- Freeze: Cream-based pastas don’t freeze perfectly, but it can be frozen for up to 2 months if needed. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
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Carolyn says
Delicious! I made this as directed but omitting the jalapeño and used about 1/2 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning because we can't eat anything real spicy. The directions were written out well and easy to follow. Love the recipes from this site! Thanks for another great one and I'll be making it again!